A high-level political forum on sustainable development hosted a side event on global energy interconnection at the UN headquarters in New York on July 10, where the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) released its Global Electricity Development Index 2026 report.

The event, co-organized by GEIDCO, China's permanent mission to the UN, the UN Development Programme, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, focused on accelerating energy system innovation and a just, resilient transition to drive global sustainable development.

UN Economic and Social Council President Lachezara Stoeva, UN Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua, China's permanent representative to the UN Fu Cong, and GEIDCO Chairman Xin Bao'an addressed the gathering.

Stoeva said Sustainable Development Goal 7 on affordable and clean energy is a core pillar of the 2030 Agenda, noting the vast global energy access gap and persistent energy system vulnerabilities. She called for increased investment in green energy infrastructure in developing countries, wider technology access, and a fair, innovation-driven path to a resilient and inclusive global energy transition.

Li Junhua said energy is the foundation of sustainable development, urging countries to accelerate energy technology innovation and grid interconnection, provide policy and technical assistance to developing nations, and deepen cross-sector multilateral partnerships to advance a fair and inclusive energy transition.

Fu Cong proposed four practical measures for a just and resilient energy transition: strengthening technological support and multilateral cooperation; removing green technology barriers to enable large-scale industrial deployment and broad access; promoting green lifestyles and production methods with broad participation; and improving global energy governance to safeguard supply security.

Xin Bao'an said the green and low-carbon energy transition has become an international consensus, with the key lying in accelerated action through clean energy substitution and electrification to build a modern energy system centered on electricity, clean energy, interconnection, security and smart efficiency. He described global energy interconnection as a systematic solution to implement the Global Development Initiative and drive energy transformation, calling for innovation-driven, inclusive and security-based approaches.

The Global Electricity Development Index 2026 report assessed electricity development across 100 countries from four dimensions: supply security, consumption services, green and low-carbon performance, and technological innovation. Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, China and Norway ranked as the top five in overall electricity development. China led globally in electricity technology innovation, ranked first in installed clean energy capacity, and led in digital and smart grid technology applications.

During the event, GEIDCO signed a cooperation agreement with UN ESCAP and jointly launched the Global Energy Interconnection Academy.